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Kent call for cleaner chimneys in warmer weather

25 July 2012

Ahead of Chimney Fire Safey Week (30 July-5 August), Kent fire chiefs have teamed up with the Institue of Chimney Sweeps to show why the current warm weather is the perfect time to ensure chimneys are fire-safe.

In the last three years, KFRS attended 824 chimney fires in Kent and Medway, and ICS believe many of these could have been easily avoided if the chimney had been swept.

Chair of the ICS Daniel Kemp said: "Having your chimney swept by a professional certified sweep will help reduce the risk of fire in your home or business and also save you money, as clean chimneys burn fuel more efficiently.

"Autumn is a busy time for chimney sweeps and many tend to get booked-up well in advance, so our advice is to get prepared and book up early."

KFRS chief executive Ann Millington will officially be 'opening' the ICS's new training premises in Maidstone next Tuesday [31 July], as the first stage of a partnership that will see Institute sweeps give out KFRS fire safety booklets to any customers they visit to spread the fire safety message in the community.

KFRS Chief Executive Ann Millington said: "Chimney fires can have a devastating effect on your home or business and we are delighted to be working with the Institute of Chimney Sweeps to highlight the risk and help prevent fires of this type occurring. We are also grateful for their help in spreading the wider message about fire safety in the home and would encourage people to take up the free advice we offer."